One of the most perplexing styles of literary art has been explored in the works of Ernest Hemingway. "Hills Like White Elephants" appears unclear and mysterious due to the setup of the language and the uncertainty of the dialogue on which the entire plot is based.

Conflict, especially in the context of love, has been a classic situation to build a piece of literature. While it is prevalent in novels and short stories, it is also the basis of many songs. This type of conflict is something to which everyone can relate. Even as young children, we learn that conflict is present within the scenario of love. The devastating pain bred through the ultimate happiness evokes empathy even from people that acknowledge emotions rarely.

The conflict within this story takes place between a man and a woman. Although there is a declaration of love (paragraph 59),  the relationship between the “American” and the “girl” is vague. While the two obviously have some sort of profound relationship, there is no evidence of marriage.

When the story opens, the first paragraph describes the setting and briefly introduces the two main characters. The brief description of the heat, and the attention brought to the fact that the building produced the only shade, makes the aura of the story immediately uncomfortable. However, the statement that is most reflective of the situation that lies ahead is the fact that the setting is at a junction, somewhere that the two will be only momentarily, somewhere that they must visit in order to get them where they would like, or are destined, to be.

The dialogue starts out very casually as the girl suggests that they drink beer, and upon ordering the man decides that they should have “big ones”. There is a question that is aroused by these first lines. Does this couple ordinarily drink in the middle of the day? Or are they dealing with a difficult situation that would warrant the intervention of alcohol?

As they begin having their drinks, the girl makes an imaginative observation about the scenery; she compares the hills to white elephants. She is obviously dismayed by the man’s unwillingness to see the image as she does, and after a four-line conflict the girl changes the subject.

This time, the girl makes another casual observation, but this time at the curtain leading into the bar. The man tells the woman that it is a type of drink, and the girl wishes to try it. Again, the suggestion of alcohol is welcomed, and they try the drink.

In paragraphs 25 to 34, the two bicker over words. At this point in the story, even though the plot has yet to be explored, the stage is set and the characters have already been tagged by pessimism and optimism. The man obviously does not wish to see the girl’s perspective, and the girl seems desperate to keep the conversation light. By paragraph 37, suggested by the man this time, they are discussing another drink.

Apparently, the couple has a nice alcohol buzz at this point; at least if they don’t, they should. The man, in two lines, goes from a casual comment about beer to a persuasive comment about a non-specific operation. The author then takes note to the way that the girl observed the legs of the table (paragraph 43); it’s as if she were trying not to hear the man at all. Nevertheless, he continues to speak of the operation. She remains silent, but the man is insistent on having this conversation.

The audience is unclear as to the situation that brings about this mysterious operation. The man obviously feels strongly about the decision that he has made--to convince the girl that it is okay. The girl, however, seems as though she has her own thoughts about the situation.

But what is this situation? There is a picturesque description of the view from the outdoor area of the bar. As the girl notices what surrounds her, emotion surfaces. “And we could have all this,” (paragraph 71) she tells the man.

The girl is at a junction within her own life. She is now reflecting on the idea that every decision that she, or perhaps he, makes alters their future. She feels as if she is losing something that she will not be able to get back once it is gone.

The lines following are filled with the girl’s emotions, and the man consistently minimizing her perspective. Whatever it is that she thinks, the man tries to convince her otherwise. The man wants to be consoled. He wants her to say that she understands and feels the same way that he does even though she obviously does not.

So, why is this couple tiptoeing around this situation? Are they trying to avoid saying the word, abortion? The entire text, after the initial mention of the operation, refers to the problem as it and that. It seems almost as if the situation is not truly complex, as long as they do not blatantly confess the profoundness of the events, and the words are not as serious when they are kept nonspecific.

The girl finally admits that she feels as if the operation would be taking something from them, something that they could not get back once it was gone (paragraph 81).  A few lines later she attempts to let the man win; she tries to balance the situation and requests another beer.  The man does not buy her sarcasm, and, again, continues his persuasion (paragraph 87).

After requesting that the conversation end a couple times (paragraphs 89&98), the girl threatens to scream if it does not stop.

About that time, the waitress alerts the man that the train will be arriving in five minutes. In an attempt to give the girl space, the man offers to carry the bags to the other side of the station. On the way back to the table he stops at the bar to have a drink without the company of the girl.

The last two lines of the story fuse the entire plot. Upon returning to the table after his solo venture to the bar, the man wishes to know if the girl feels better. She responds by saying that she is fine, as if nothing ever bothered her.

I think that the girl saying that she is fine brings the story together by bringing attention to the fact that she had been trying to avoid the conflict of this conversation all along. It is almost as if she came out and told the man that he was the one with the problem, not her. She just wants to sit back and let the world turn, and let nature take its course.

The junction seems particularly important at this ending, because the story went from being set at a train junction to being a junction in the man and girl’s lives. Perhaps, this is the junction that joined their lives.

The lack of clarity of the language used in this story adds to the idea that the situation is forbidden socially, and illicit even in the conversation between two lovers. Throughout this conversation, there is only one thing that the two can seem to agree on; they both wish to drink. In fact, as the storyline progresses the desire to drink seems to get stronger. When the man goes to the bar and has an additional drink by himself, his behavior is indicative of his frustration, and his desire to numb it.

The theme is very conflictive and speaks to everyone that has struggled with a situation involving unspeakable actions—and unthinkable consequences. It evokes emotion from those who so desperately have wanted control of a situation that was out of their hands. Most importantly, I think that "Hills Like White Elephants" demonstrates relationship conflict at its maximum between a young man and young woman. This is a story of a conflict bred from the security of love.

* Posted by permission of the author in November, 2003.